Many of you may know that I received my Photographic Craftsman degree last year, which is one of the highest recognitions for speaking, writing, or mentoring on photography; & positions the photographer as an authority in the industry. It is awarded in recognition of service to the profession as an orator, author, or mentor. I love to teach… a wise friend of mine once told me that the best way to really know something is to teach it to another. Today was the big day for a fantastic seminar called a Day with the DivAs, and I and three of my very best friends and colleagues gave a whole day workshop through the Professional Photographers of the Greater Bay Area to share some of our expertise in image processing, workflow, retouching, sales, pricing and presentation, as well as an afternoon of photography demonstration! We were so pleased that it sold out, and enjoyed meeting all of the partipants! It was down & dirty, nuts & bolts information designed to share some of the things that have made us sucessful San Francisco photographers… Here is one of my favorites from my part of the demo… Mischa & Brianne are one of the couples that has what we all want from love… a playful passion for each other that really makes you smile! I am crazy for this retro style photo. Love you guys!
Oh yeah, been getting creative with fun children’s photography wall collections! This is our newest springtime offering, and can be ordered in sizes from 10×10 to 30×30! Just choose a few of your favorite images, and we’ll do the rest! Can be completely customized to match your child’s room’s color scheme! See how our creative adorable garden grows!! This would also make a perfect custom invitation to your little one’s birthday party!
I had so much fun running around San Francisco today in search of great places to photograph Annie’s beautiful belly! The first place we stopped is right around the mountain from my house, and I love the stone stairs! Annie was such a good sport in dealing with our frigid San Francisco chill… Her jacket was really gorgeous! Speaking of gorgeous, her hair and makeup was done by Jenni Huse of the Powder Room, who traveled down with Amy of Oaks & Acorns for the photoshoot! So what do you get when you take 3 photographers (one of them with a baby on the way!) and a great make up artist? You get a really great morning/afternoon of hip, modern maternity photos, not to mention a fantastic lunch at Luna Park after we finished! Their coconut cream pie is legendary… drool…
I love being a wedding photographer, especially when I get to see the window into a couple’s personality by the creative touches they put into their wedding details! I also love when my dear friendtographer, Jacki V comes to town because we have been shooting together for 8 years, and its really like a highly sophisticated synchronized swimming routine minus all the water… I totally love shooting a Clos la Chance Wedding too… The views are breathtaking, and Michele is one of the best venue coordinators in the business!
Clos la Chance Wedding Details | Custom Wedding Gown
Al the beautiful bride
Al & Len say "I Do!"
They used the Grimmerie from Wicked as their guest book...
I promised to show off each of my little subjects from our day of mini-sessions at my San Carlos kids portrait studio! First to arrive was the Carrico family, Joel & Pia, being fellow photographers, welcome the chance to get the family in a photo without having to resort to self-timers and photoshop of multiple exposures… Baby Ossi, just a tender newborn two weeks old, stole my heart, but his big brother, Noah, was quite a charmer himself!
So great to see Miss Madeleine and her sweet sister Gianna, and Mommy Nicole at my San Carlos photography studio on Friday! Can’t wait until our next photo playdate with the fabulous fairy dress! Here are a couple of my favorte for Valentine’s Day! I heart you guys!!!
I could say it a million times, baby portraits in my San Carlos studio are such a joy! I will have a blog post for each of these babies (oh, how they have grown!) but first, here’s one of all of them together! (no small feat at 4PM when the afternoon crankies can sneak into the sweetest of babies!) Their mommies are all the best of friends, and I have photographed each of their weddings over the years, and as fate would have it, they all have wonderful sweet babies in their arms these days, who I am sure will love growing up together!
mmmmmm… photographing lots of babies today! Have to give you just one for now! Joel, Pia & Noah, thanks for sharing Ossi with me today! He is just so wonderful and snuggly! More to come, of course, but now I need to snuggle my own baby!
One of my album “babies” goes to its rightful home… I put so much heart and soul into every wedding I photograph, and it doesn’t stop there… This beautiful book went home today… an amazing clouded glass cover with exquisite leather details, and a really beautiful design. Ginny, the lovely bride, took it out of its box, and just looked at the cover and said that would have been enough for her, but continued to glow as she paged through it, commenting on how it totally reflected their style as a couple, and pausing to remember the memories the images invoked. (Gin, you had me smiling from ear to ear with your compliments on my work!) For a peek at the whole Hans Fahden wedding album design, view the slideshow!
I am feeling the spring time, and am so pleased to offer a special portrait mini-session in and around my San Carlos children’s photography studio on Wednesday and Friday, February 10 and 12th, just in time for Valentine’s Day!!! Only $95, which is a savings of almost $200 from our regular session fee! Reserve your 30 minute studio or outdoor session today by calling 415.515.6370, or sending an email to inquiry@millcottagephoto.com. Sessions are available between 10AM and 4:30PM on those two days only!!! We also will be having a special Woodland Series portrait event on Monday, February 15, and are accepting only three clients for that day for an on location session in the Los Altos Hills. The times available are 11:30, 12:00 noon and 12:30, and sessions will be 20 minutes, 1-2 children only.
All new clients will receive a special $25 gift card with purchase of a session, and current clients will receive a complimentary 5×7 print of their favorite image from the session as well as a $25 gift card! Images will be shown in your own personal, password protected web gallery, and will be available for purchase on-line for 3 days after they have been posted, so alert the grandparents, friends and family to be ready! Reposting your gallery after those 3 days will incur a $100 fee, which will automatically be applied to your order!
First wedding of 2010, and what a day it was! We kept having to remind ourselves that it was January! Beautiful sunny skies with white puffy clouds, temps in the 60’s, and a beautiful wedding venue, The Silverado Country Club! Got to shoot with my dear friend, Jill Doherty, whose work you’ll find featured on the cover of their wedding information brochure (way to go Jill!) Just as I promised in my blog post about film for wedding photography, I brought along my Holga, and took some shots of the bride’s beautiful dress… It’s hard to ration myself to one or two shots per photo shoot…
The stunning bride Io was absolutely sweet and wonderful, and the strong love between her and Tim kept us all warm and fuzzy! Her impeccable taste was evident in every wedding detail, and when Jill pulled the wrapping off her wedding gown we both gasped… WOW – there could have been no more perfect dress for this lovely lady! Thanks to Jill for having me along, and all the best wishes for only happiness in the future for Io and Tim!
Shoes and rings and bling, oh MY!
bride Io on the stairs before her Napa Valley Wedding
